In my article Internal Model (see this
site), there is a model of the Depression. The methods of treatment of the Depression
derived from this model are different from currently accepted methods.
Following
is a description of the mechanism of the Depression derived from mentioned
above article and description of approaches to treat this illness with emphasis
on practical aspects of it.
Attempts
to describe the Depression from a traditional point of view as disorders of
mind only or brain only or hormonal system only, etc. did not arrive neither to
satisfactory description of the causes of the problem nor to effective
treatments. A different point of view is needed to illuminate this problem.
Note
that successful methods of treatment of depression, from chemical to
psychological, show numerous “side effects”. Drugs, which suppose to affect
activities of the brain, are powerful muscle relaxants; methods of
psychotherapy, which suppose to affect an individual psyche, create new social
dynamics, etc. It is most likely that these “side effects” are essential causes
of success of these methods of treatment.
Hence,
we need a point of view, where society and individual, mind and body, hormones,
and nervous system and muscles are not subjects of separate study. Inevitably
we should accept the loss of precision exhibited by the disciplines dedicated
to these separate studies, but we should catch details of what currently is
viewed as “interactions” between society, individual, mind, body, brain,
hormones, nerves etc.
The
above mentioned article describes one form of the Depression as a stable state
of body with a characteristic dynamic (activity of muscles, hormones, nerves,
brain activity and on another level abstraction – activity of mind, social
activity, etc.). Because there is no sufficient system of concepts to describe
it, it is described as a vicious cycle of a stream of various “substances”
(muscle activities, hormonal activities, nervous signals, thoughts, emotions,
feelings, social interactions, etc.). This is a stable state in which a human
being (described with all relevant attributes) could fall into.
This
state manifests itself in perpetual anxiety, inescapable complex of thoughts, asocial
behavior, etc.
One
could attempt to form a theory, which could be useful in describing such
phenomena. This theory declares that there are different stable states of the
human being, some are undesirable stable states, and others are acceptable or
even desirable stable states.
Description
of these stable states in familiar terms is difficult. We had to resort to simple
classification and detailed study of some of these states.
For
the study of the Depression, a Vicious Cycle stable state is a focus of interest.
One,
who is a victim of the Vicious Cycle state, could be compelled to seek another less
unpleasant stable state through escape into a micro-world of inactivity or excessive
work. This is another form of the Depression – it leads to suppression of own
biological and social self and inevitable suffering as a consequence.
Obviously,
there are Acceptable States even happy states – these are normal states and
normally people flip from one stable
The
treatment of Depression as a treatment of any illness is flipping out of a
Hence,
the person susceptible to the Depression has to acquire skills of flipping out
of it at will.
Finding
a method of flipping out of Depression is not trivial, as one could expect
judging by the prevalence of incidents of this illness.
Some
methods, people find trough experimentation, others come through official
medicine. In many cases, they are inadequate.
The
above article describes one efficient method of Flipping out of a Vicious
Cycle. Neither discovery of it nor description of mechanism of its action is trivial;
however, the method itself is relatively simple.
To
flip from a depressive state of the Vicious Cycle type, one needs to physically
exercise sufficiently long time in a specific way.
One
requirement is obvious – it should be a pleasant soothing environment.
The
other is not so obvious – muscles have to be relaxed.
While
it sounds as a contradiction – exercise and relaxation, this is exactly what is
taught in martial arts to achieve higher strength, speed and control of
actions.
This
is a crucial requirement – a Vicious Cycle always comes with tense muscles,
with muscle spasms. One has to learn how to relax muscles during the exercise.
Exercise
should be sufficiently strenuous and it should be practiced until one achieves
a flipping from the Depressive state. This flipping is so obvious that one
cannot miss it.
When
one achieves ability to flip from the Depression state with relatively small
effort, one changes the entire environment on biological, mental and social
levels. One stops being anxious of falling into a Depression state and people
around are less concerned with it. The illness becomes manageable, less
destructive and gradually diminishing.
There
are relatively shallow states similar to the state of Depression – it is easier
to flip out of them. Learning to control them – detecting and flipping out of
them, is useful in controlling Depression.
One
should distinguish Anxiety from fear. As it is described in Gift of Fear by Gavin
de Becker, fear is a quick highly useful emotion triggered by a sudden change
in the environment, while Anxiety is a vicious cycle based purely on internal
mental images.
Healthy
suspicion is a normal reaction to new information; however, Paranoia is
excessive examination and reexamination of information. While some specialists
have to exercise Paranoia like behavior in area of their professional interest,
it is not a normal state of mind; it is asocial and destructive in a normal
society.
Some
factors make the Depressive state more stable – a trap easy to fall-in and
difficult to flip-out. One with propensity to Depression should monitor them
and take corrective actions, when their effects are detected.
Excessive
Stress fortifies stable states of functioning and especially bad states. Hence,
Excessive Stress most likely strengthens a Vicious Cycle state and an Escape
state and one should avoid it. Note that one should differentiate between
Excessive Stress and normal stress which accompany any development and growth.
One
with propensity to Depression should learn own limits of stress tolerance and
avoid situations leading to Excessive Stress.
Feeling
fear in uncertain and especially dangerous situation is normal and healthy.
Some people thrive in such situations because they provide them an environment
conducive to their personal growth, expansion of understanding and control.
However,
one with propensity to Depression should learn own limits of fear tolerance and
avoid situations leading to Excessive Fear.
Not
so long ago, the society mostly operated in unfocused way; only a small
fraction of society could focus, and it usually occupied a comfortable place in
the society (warriors, administrators, etc.).
A modern society operates in a focused way (with frequent switched of the
focus). In the modern society, inability to focus is perceived as illness
(Attention Deficit Disorder) and rightfully so, because one has to be able to
focus to be able to work, to drive, etc.
Focus
is suppression of activities (biological, mental, social, etc.) in areas
outside of the area of focus, which leads to increased efficiency of activities
in the area of focus. Frequent and prolonged focusing produces patterns of
activity, stable states. A person trained to focus, habitually flips between
such stable states, while a person unable to focus acts randomly without
preferences for any pattern of activity.
Some
“focused” states of activity could become a part of the Vicious Cycle state and
the more stable they are the more the Vicious Cycle state is stable.
Hence,
one with propensity to Depression should learn how to loosen up from a focused
state into being unfocused (not to flip into another focused state) and should
do this loosening up frequently.
There
are many different states of activity, which should be qualified as Depression
of Escape type.
Escape
states develop in forms mimicking socially acceptable and even socially
desirable behavior. Workaholics, who
escape into work, often unproductive, mimic adherence to the ethics of hard work
highly praised in many societies. Those who suppress own activities mimic
ability to be “calm and assertive” in the face of adversity – another highly
praised trait.
Most
importantly, Escape type of Depression is accompanied with the feeling of
pleasure. This makes it similar to addiction or masochism.
First
of all, a sufferer has to want to get rid of this affliction badly. This is an
imperative first step of getting better. From that point, conscious
understanding of the mechanisms of Escape should guide the person out of the
real situation, which causes desire to fall into the state of Escape, and
consequently to improvement.
[Alexander Liss,